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  • 12 Apr / 24

    Building a mental health workforce fit for the future

    We are proud contributors to the briefing published this week: Building a mental health workforce fit for the future. Here CEO Philippa Mariani shares her reflections on the importance of the piece. It was a privilege to be in the room with sector partners at the national workforce roundtable co-hosted by Centre for Mental Health, […]

  • 16 Jan / 24
    News

    2023 Impact Report

    We’re pleased to share our Impact Report evaluating our work over the last year. Our vision is simple:  a thriving mental health workforce, empowered to support people to live the life they want and deserve. From our mental health social work programme, to our advocacy work across the sector, we work to ensure people living […]

  • 7 Mar / 23
    Features

    Time for Change

    New CEO Philippa Mariani shares reflections on her first 100 days and the priorities as she sees them for the future. When you’re struggling with your mental health, a lot of things can feel daunting; the people who help us navigate those challenges really matter to our wellbeing, to whether we feel listened to and […]

  • 16 Jun / 22
    News

    Welcoming the 2022 Cohort to our programme

    Members of our 2022 cohort have kicked off their journey to become mental health social workers. The new trainees attended an online launch event on 11 June, and heard from current and past trainees, members of our Service User and Carer Reference Group, head office representatives, and staff from our academic partner Middlesex University. The […]

  • 9 May / 22
    Features

    How can loneliness impact mental health? We asked our Practice Specialists

    The theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is loneliness. The Think Ahead Practice Specialists, our in-house senior social workers with years of experience working across social work and mental health services, shared their thoughts on the real life impacts of isolation on mental health, and how we can better support people to connect […]

  • 17 Aug / 21
    News

    “Human rights and community-based care – that’s where you are experts” – 2021 intake completes the Summer Institute

    Our 2021 Cohort have passed the first milestone on their journey to becoming mental health social workers, having completed the Summer Institute. For the past four weeks, the 160 new trainees – our biggest intake to date – have been immersed in lectures, practical workshops and keynote talks with respected experts across the sector. Led […]

  • 18 Jun / 21
    News

    Two new trustees join Think Ahead’s Board

    We have been delighted to welcome two new additions to our Board of Trustees, Levi Chambers-Cook and Professor Kamaldeep Bhui. Levi completed the Think Ahead programme in 2018 and is the first member of our alumni network to sit on the Board of Trustees. Her frontline experience will bring an important perspective to the position, […]

  • 27 Apr / 21
    News

    Think Ahead trainees meet Minister for Mental Health, Suicide Prevention and Patient Safety

    The Minister of State for Mental Health, Suicide Prevention and Patient Safety, Nadine Dorries MP, today joined us for a virtual meeting to learn about the invaluable contribution social work makes to mental health services. It was a pleasure to welcome the Minister of State today and show her the unique support mental health social […]

  • 26 Mar / 21
    News

    Think Ahead’s first conference – Mental health social work in 2021

    We were delighted to be joined by over 350 delegates this week at our first ever conference, Think Ahead presents: Mental health social work in 2021.  The event offered a rare opportunity to focus on the vital role frontline mental health social workers play in driving and responding to change. Our broad range of speakers brought a wealth of knowledge […]

  • 15 Mar / 21
    In the media

    “The pandemic has shone a light on the importance of mental health” – Think Ahead featured in the Financial Times

    Think Ahead participant Iqra and our Strategy Director Matthew Brown have been featured in a Financial Times article exploring how the coronavirus pandemic has caused rising interest in public sector careers around the world. The article looks at mental health social work as an example of a public sector career which attracts many young people […]

  • 9 Mar / 21
    In the media

    Our voices should be key to developing and delivering services that support us

    Caroline Butterwick, one of our lived experience partners, discusses how she uses her lived experience to make a difference in a piece for PosAbility Magazine. She explains: “For me, one of the unexpected benefits of service user involvement is the chance to take ownership of my narrative. “I get to tell my story in my […]

  • 11 Jan / 21
    In the media

    Research by Think Ahead social worker finds that inpatients’ religious and cultural needs often go unmet

    A member of our first intake, Kuldip Kaur Kang, has written about her research into inpatients’ religious and cultural needs for Community Care, a leading social work website. As part of her master’s degree on the Think Ahead programme, Kuldip explored whether people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds had their religious and […]